Ireland’s generally mild climate means that it’s perfect for winter walks and the country can look particularly spectacular at this time of year.
Here are some beautiful winter walks to go out on to celebrate nature and Ireland’s winter wonderland, from unexpected finds in Dublin city to beautiful and wild Wicklow to the sights of Kerry and Cork.
Wonderful Wicklow
Wicklow has no shortage of amazing walks.
Powerscourt Estate was voted the third best garden in the world by National Geographic and is a must-see for those who have not walked there before. From the magnificent waterfall to the gardens with some of the best views in Ireland, particularly of the Sugarloaf, it is truly spectacular.
Powerscourt is now one of Ireland’s top visitor attractions and it’s easy to see why. The series of terraces linking the house to the lake took over twelve years to build, with over one hundred laborers required to complete the task! One of the most photographed features in the Italian Gardens is the pair of life sized Winged Horses which watch over the lake. They form part of the family coat of arms and were made by Professor Hugo Hagen in Berlin in 1869. The fountain in the dramatic lake in Powerscourt is based on the fountain in the Piazza Barberini in Rome.
Glendalough
Another stunning place to visit in any season in Co. Wicklow is Glendalough. For thousands of years, people have been drawn to the ‘valley of the two lakes’ for its spectacular scenery, rich history, archaeology and wildlife. As it’s described “Glendalough is a remarkable place that will still your mind, inspire your heart and fill your soul”.
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| Glendalough |
There are trails and walks around Glendalough and the 6th century monastic settlement which was founded by St. Kevin. There are many stop offs to relax at and enjoy the view. The Glendalough Valley is located in the Wicklow Mountains National Park and has many walk options from the world famous Monastic Site with Round Tower to walks like the ‘Monastic City and Green Road’ walk.
Killarney National Park
Killarney National Park was declared a Biosphere Reserve in 1981 by the United Nations.
Muckross House sits at the center with beautiful formal gardens and you’ll see the amazing red deer which unbelievably have been present since back as far as the last Ice Age.
The park is quite simply a paradise for walkers and can be even more spectacular in winter. The park was established in 1932 to protect one of Ireland’s most precious national habitats. Beneath the summit of one of Ireland’s highest mountains, a beautiful sylvan landscape is enclosed, with ancient woodland, spectacular waterfalls and quiet lakes to walk around.
One of the best places to start exploring is the Muckross Estate on the Ring of Kerry. Killarney town is only 5km away and perfect for relaxing either before or after your walk by a roaring fire. There are myriad routes to choose from around Muckross Lake and some of the walks include the Torc Waterfall.
Tree Trails All Across Dublin
Dublin City parks have come together to create the innovative
Native Tree Trails. It’s easy to get away from the streets-cape for a brief escape and enjoy the space and parkland. It’s a wonderful way to discover some of Ireland’s native trees including oak, ash, hazel, Scots pine, birch, rowan and willow. There are also trees to be enjoyed that were subsequently brought in to Ireland including sycamore, beech, larch, spruce and fir.
There are 7 separate trails in parks from Ballsbridge on the south side to Glasnevin on the north side of the city. There’s a special tree booklet to accompany the walks with space for sketches available from the Tree Council of Ireland. There are 15 native trees in each park with information signposts so it’s a mine of information for interested walkers.
Visitors to Dublin are now invited to Take a Breath of Fresh Air and it’s easy to see why!
Gougane Barra
Photographed regularly, Gougane Barra doesn’t need any Instagram filter! It was Ireland’s first National Park when it opened in 1966. It covers over 1,000 acres. The River Lee rises here and there is a lake connected to the shore by a causeway where St. Finbarr, patron saint of Cork founded his early Christian monastery.
The only decision to make around Gougane Barra is where to walk! There are so many different trails to choose from and Coillte’s National Forest Park is in this valley. There are very well marked walking trails which are perfect in winter with 350 acres of forestry suitable for all types of walkers. From Sli Laoi which follows the River Lee to Sli Sleibhte which takes you to where the forest meets the mountain, there are spectacular views wherever you tread.
Ireland is now becoming one of the premier walking destinations in the world and hundreds of thousands of overseas visitors are now participating in hill-walking and hiking every year - whatever the weather!